Month: March 2016

There are so many advantages to tooth implants. It is a permanent solution to tooth loss that is durable and stable compared to the alternatives such as conventional dentures, crowns or bridges. The implant generally prevents further bone loss, which may lead to additional tooth loss. Implants make it easier to speak and most definitely, eat. They also fit naturally and when done right, look better cosmetically than their alternatives. And they also improve your oral health by making it easier to clean between teeth and they do not require destroying nearby healthy teeth in order to be installed.

Advantages

Permanent and durable

They are more cost effective over many years

Natural and comfortable and functional – like regular teeth

Require the same maintenance of regular teeth, i.e. floss

Don’t require modifications to adjacent teeth

90 to 95%+ success rates

The risks are minimal as problems and causes of failure are rare and are often easily treated. The risks include but are not limited to: the bone not integrating with the implant, bleeding, the crown becomes loose or a lack of proper oral hygiene. Every patient is unique and therefore, success rates depend on a number of factors including the size and strength of the jaw bone and where in the jaw the implant is placed, but overall they are well above 90% (up to 98% if they are properly cared for) and are always improving. More specifically, the success rate is around 90% for the upper jaw and 95% for lower jaw implants. This is because the bone in the upper jaw is less dense than the lower jaw which makes successful osseo-intergration more difficult. It is very important to note that these numbers only include patients who were thoroughly assessed and approved for implants by a dentist since they had sufficient bone density and were good dental health. There is a chance of failure even when conditions are ideal.

When getting a quote, remember YOU ARE UNIQUE. Every patient, every mouth is unique. This is not a cookie cutter process. Uniqueness creates a particular approach to every patient. There is the cost of the procedure and the implant, the cost of the abutment and the cost of the crown, bridge or denture. There will be additional charges for the scans, anesthesia and modeling as well. So please don’t be fooled by ads that sound too good to be true. It’s your health at risk.

If you receive a quote or see a price that looks to good to be true, it most likely is. In our practice we are oral physicians and safe, exceptional quality and long lasting implants come at a price. Some or all of these factors may or may not be included in a particular estimate.